English Learner Toolkit Chapter 3 TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR STAFFING AND SUPPORTING AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER PROGRAM
What is this? In January 2015, the U.S. Dept of Education office for Civil Rights and the Dept. of Justice, released a Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) English Learner Students and Limited English Proficiency Parents. This document outlines the SEA and LEA s legal obligations to ELs under civil rights laws and other federal requirements. http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-el- 201501/pdf
TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR STAFFING AND SUPPORTING AN ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER PROGRAM
KEY POINTS: FOR STAFFING LEAs must provide the personnel necessary to effectively implement EL programs Necessary personnel include teachers who are qualified to provide EL services, core content teachers who are highly qualified in their field as well as trained to support EL students, and trained administrators who can evaluate these teachers. LEAs must provide adequate professional development and follow-up training in order to prepare EL program teachers. LEAs must ensure that administrators who evaluate EL program staff are adequately trained to meaningfully evaluate whether EL teachers are appropriately employing their training in the classroom in order for the EL program model to successfully achieve its educational objectives. SEAs must ensure that LEAs have highly qualified teachers and administrators for their EL program.
Staffing continued Recruit, develop, and retain, excellent educators Monitor teacher training and success of implementation If not HQ staff, ensure they are being trained in an acceptable amount of time (e.g., within 2 years). For dually identified EL students with disabilities (ELSWD), special education teachers must also be trained to work with EL students LEAs may consider diversity workforce initiatives that include recruiting candidates of varied backgrounds and diverse language skills in order to meet staffing needs of their ELL program
Questions to evaluate staffing: Does the SEA provide guidance about and monitor whether LEAs have HQ teachers to instruct ELs? Have all staff who instruct ELs and administrators who evaluate staff have appropriate certification and/or training? Do all teachers who instruct ELs demonstrate the skills necessary to effectively implement the LEA s EL program? Does the LEA/SEA provide supplemental PD opportunities, when necessary to ensure the EL program is implemented effectively? Do all staff teaching ELSWD receive PD specifically related to teaching dually identified ELs? Is the LEA s EL program adequately staffed in number? Are paraprofessionals sufficiently trained to support ELs and working under the direct supervision of a qualified teacher?
KEY POINTS TOOLS FOR STAFFING AND SUPPORTING AN ENGLISH LEARNER PROGRAM LEAs are obligated to provide the resources necessary to effectively implement EL programs. Necessary resources include adequate and appropriate materials for the EL program. TOOL #1: PD for Teaching ELs, provides a frame for how PD may be structured to build on what teachers know and maximize adult learning TOOL #2: PD for General Ed. Teachers of ELs, provides a recommended set of components for a comprehensive PD program for general education teachers of ELs. TOOL #3: Meeting the Needs of ELs, delves deeper into what general ed. teachers should know to teach ELs effectively. TOOL #4: Frameworks for Supporting Classroom Teaching of ELs, provides an overview of work being done to incorporate effective instructional practices for ELs in current teacher evaluation and support systems by organizations such as the CCSSO ELL SCASS) You can access the Tools and Resources for Staffing and Supporting an English Learner Program at http://www2ed.gov/about/offices/list/oela/english-learner-toolkit/index.html
TOOL #1 Professional Development for Teaching ELs Principle 1: Build on a foundation of skills, knowledge, and expertise Principle 2: Engage participants as learners Principle 3: Provide practice, feedback, and follow-up Principle 4: Measure changes in teacher knowledge and skills Principle 5: Measure changes in student performance
TOOL #2 Professional Development for General Ed. Teachers of ELs Essential Components of Effective Professional Development: A process for establishing high standards for English language acquisition, English language development, and academic content in lesson planning and instruction. A process for integrating teachers understanding of academic content and English language proficiency standards with instruction in teaching methods and assessments. Knowledge and use of effective pedagogy. Methods for implementing instructional strategies that ensure that academic instruction in English is meaningful and comprehensible. Exposure to a demonstration showing why increasing academic achievement of ELs is dependent upon multiple instructional approaches or methodologies. Providing a strategies toolkit for teachers, which offers ways to enhance and improve instruction for struggling students, based on assessment results. Cultural awareness is also an important component for a professional development program. To maximize achievement opportunities for ELs, educators must understand and appreciate different cultural backgrounds.
TOOL #3 Meeting the Needs of ELs Essential Knowledge for Teachers of ELs: Support Oral Language Development Allows students to participate in academic discussions, understand instructions, and build literacy skills More developed first language skills enables students to better develop their second language skills Vocabulary knowledge plays an important role. ELs require direct teaching of new words with opportunities to learn new words in context through hearing, seeing, and saying them as well as during indirect encounters with authentic and motivating texts Building oral proficiency in a second language can be supported by the use of nonverbal cues, visual aids, gestures, and multisensory hands-on methods. Other strategies include establishing routines, extended talk on a single topic, providing students with immediate feedback, opportunities to converse with teachers, speaking slowly, using clear repetition, and paraphrasing supports oral language communication Students should receive explicit instruction and preparation techniques to aid in speaking with others by teaching words and grammatical features that are used in academic settings
TOOL #3 Meeting the Needs of ELs Essential Knowledge for Teachers of ELs: Explicitly Teach Academic English Academic language is decontextualized, abstract, technical, and literary. It is difficult for native speakers and even more difficult for ELs. Academic language is not limited to one area of language and requires skills in multiple domains, including vocabulary, syntax/grammar, and phonology. Understanding the differences of informal language and academic language is important. Opportunities to learn and practice academic language are essential. Students must be exposed to sophisticated and varied vocabulary and grammatical structures and must avoid slang and idioms. Opportunities and instruction on using academic language accurately in multiple contexts and texts is of critical importance for all ELs. School-wide efforts and coordination of curriculum across content area helps teachers build on a foundation of prior knowledge. Value Cultural Diversity
TOOL #3 Meeting the Needs of ELs Essential Knowledge for Teachers of ELs: Value Cultural Diversity The school experience should reaffirm the social, cultural, and historic experience of all students. Teachers and students need to accept, explore, and understand different perspectives Interact with diverse cultures Involve parents and community in meaningful ways.
TOOL #4 Framework for Supporting Classroom Teaching of ELs Indicators and Examples of Effective Classroom Teaching for ELs There are many overviews of support strategies and examples of those strategies in place to support EL students.
English Learner Toolkit Chapter 4: TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR PROVIDING ENGLISH LEARNERS EQUAL ACCESS TO CURRICULAR AND EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS
KEY POINTS FOR PROGRAM ACCESS SEAs & LEAs must design and implement services and programs that enable ELs to attain both English proficiency and parity of participation in the standard instructional programs, within a reasonable length of time. SEAs & LEAs must provide equal opportunities for EL students to meaningfully participate in curricular, co-curricular, and extracurricular program activities. SEAs & LEAs must ensure that schools and LEAs use appropriate, reliable, and valid evaluations and testing methods to measure ELs acquisition of English core content knowledge.
In the ELD program Does instruction prepare ELs to participate in the academic curriculum in English? Is the ELD instruction tailored to and does it build upon the student s level of English language proficiency? Is there ongoing, systematic assessment of ELs progress towards English language proficiency?
In the Curricular and Extracurricular programs Do the EL programs provide access to the same standard gradelevel curriculum or to a comparable curriculum, equally rigorous as is offered to never- ELs, while also providing appropriate language assistance strategies in core instruction? Are ELs integrated into the school s educational programs, extracurricular offerings, additional services, and student body? Do ELs have equal access to all of the school s facilities (e.g., computer labs, science labs, cafeteria, gym, and library)? Are ELs assessed in the core-content areas with appropriate and reliable evaluations and testing methods? Do content assessments indicate that ELs are making academic progress while in the EL program, and that former ELs are performing comparably to that of their never-el peers? If not, are timely services provided to ELs to accelerate academic progress? Are those services offered within the school day?
KEY POINTS: PROVIDING ELS EQUAL ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSES AND GIFTED AND TALENTED LEAs may not exclude ELs form GATE/TAG programs or other specialized programs, such as AP, honors, and IB courses. LEAs must ensure that evaluations and testing procedures for GATE or other specialized programs do not screen out ELs because of their ELP levels. SEAs and LEAs should monitor the extent to which ELs and former ELs are referred for and participate iin GATE programs and AP, honors, and IB courses, as compared to their never-el peers. PROGRAMS
8% 7% 7% 6% 5% 5% 4% 3% 2% 2% 2% 1% 0% Advance Placement Classes Gifted & Talented Education Programs EL Non EL U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, 2014 March, Issue Brief #3
Do GATE admission criteria apply equally to both ELs and their never-el peers? Are criteria for ELs unwittingly or arbitrarily set higher (for example, admitting only students with B averages or higher, when grades may be affected by ELP levels)? Are GATE evaluations and testing methods available in formats that do not depend on students English language skills? Do GATE evaluations include multiple sources, methods, and recommendations from both ESL teachers and general education teachers? Do the school personnel making GATE program participation decisions have knowledge of ELs cultures and backgrounds?
Do policies and processes enable ELs to access advanced classes and GATE programs for which ELP is not necessary for meaningful participation? Do policies and processes ensure that advanced classes, GATE programs, and EL services are not scheduled at the same time? Do SEAs and LEAs have a process and policy to monitor the rate at which ELs and former ELs are referred for and participate in GATE programs and AP, honors, and IB courses, as compared to their never-el peers?
KEY POINTS: TOOLS TOOLS FOR PROVIDING ELS WITH EQUAL ACCESS TO ADVANCED COURSES AND GATE TOOL #1: Data Collection provides information on how to access and use data on ELs from the Office of Civil Rights Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) http://ocrdata.ed.gov TOOL #2: Six Key Principles for Teaching ELs, will help guide LEAs as they work to develop standard-aligned instructions for ELs TOOL #3: ELs and College & Career Readiness standards provides examples of resources, instructional strategies, coursework, etc., designed to help ELs meet CCR standards in Language Arts and Math TOOL #4: Serving GATE ELs includes policy recommendations for identifying and serving ELs who are Gifted and Talented. You can access the Access to Curricular and Extra-Curricular programs at http://www2ed.gov/about/offices/list/oela/english-learner-toolkit/index.html PROGRAMS
Tool #2 Key principles for English Learner Instruction 1. Instruction focuses on providing ELs with opportunities to engage in discipline-specific practices which are designed to build conceptual understanding and language competence in tandem 2. Instruction leverages ELs home language(s), cultural assets, and prior knowledge 3. Standards-aligned instruction for ELs is rigorous, grade-level appropriate, and provides deliberate and appropriate scaffolds
Tool #2 cont d 4. Instruction moves ELs forward by taking into account their ELP level(s) and prior schooling experience 5. Instruction fosters ELs autonomy by equipping them with the strategies necessary to comprehend and use language in a variety of academic settings. 6. Diagnostic tools and formative assessment practices are employed to measure students content knowledge, academic language competence, and participation in disciplinary practices
Tool #3 EL and the College & Career-Ready Standards Instruction that develops foundational skills in English and enables ELLs to participate fully in grade-level coursework; Coursework that prepares ELLs for postsecondary education or the workplace, yet is made comprehensible for students learning content in a second language (through specific pedagogical techniques and additional resources); Opportunities for classroom discourse and interaction that are well-designed to enable ELLs to develop communicative strengths in language arts; Ongoing assessment and feedback to guide learning; and Speakers of English who know the language well enough to provide ELLs with models and support.
While vocabulary instruction is important, it is not sufficient for supporting mathematical communication. Furthermore, vocabulary drill and practice are not the most effective instructional practices for learning vocabulary. Research has demonstrated that vocabulary learning occurs most successfully through instructional environments that are language-rich, actively involve students in using language, require that students both understand spoken or written words and also express that understanding orally and in writing, and require students to use words in multiple ways over extended periods of time. To develop written and oral communication skills, students need to participate in negotiating meaning for mathematical situations and in mathematical practices that require output from students. 2010, National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved. Source:
Tool #4 Serving Gifted English Learners Develop culturally sensitive identification protocols Ensure early and continuous access to high-end curriculum Provide essential supports for CLD gifted students Establish effective home, school, and community connections Focus research on equity issues
More toolkit chapters to come during our upcoming new TIII Directors meetings See you next week on January 14, at the All TIII Director s meeting.